More than 6,000 vehicles have been taken off roads in the Thames Valley since the introduction of new police powers last year.

Legislation now allows cars to be seized if they are being driven without valid insurance or a driving licence.

Drivers face fines to recover vehicles, which can be scrapped if motorists fail to provide proper documentation.

Since police started using the powers in October 2006, 6,130 vehicles have been taken off the streets.

£200 fine

Once a vehicle is seized, the owner can sign it over to police, who will dispose of it, or return with valid insurance and a driving licence within 14 days and pay a £105 fee and a storage charge of £12 a day.

Officers can also issue a fixed penalty notice of £200 and six penalty points for no insurance.

Supt Mick Doyle, head of the roads policing department, said: "Evidence from a range of sources show uninsured and unlicensed drivers are more likely to have a collision and less likely to have other valid documentation for their vehicle.

"For the law-abiding road user, these drivers push up their insurance premiums by on average £30 a year.

"Anyone driving without a license or insurance should be aware that Thames Valley Police can and will seize your car and you will have to pay penalties, sometimes higher than the cost of insurance, to get it back."